As we’ve noted before, Otkritie along with Renaissance Capital is one of the last remaining options if you want to work for a non-state owned Russian bank now.

Otkritie had a setback last year when it was forced to postpone its IPO, but unfazed, it’s still in full expansion mode.

Group chief executive Vadim Belyaev spoke to Financial News and outlined four key priorities for 2012. Notably, Belvaev personally owns 40.1% of the group.

This is the distilled version of what he imparted to Financial News:

1.Otkritie wants to buy subsidiaries of foreign banks that are withdrawing from Russia

This is good news to the extent that it suggests Otkritie might hire people who would otherwise lose their jobs. Otkritie is particularly keen on becoming a top 20 Russian commercial bank, said Belvaev (further confirming the importance of a strong commercial banking operation if you want to get ahead in Russia).

2. Otkritie wants to expand its standard sales and trading business

Traditionally focused on electronic sales and trading (and high frequency trading in particular), Otkritie wants to expand its presence in more traditional sales and trading areas and add long-only investment funds as clients. Expect sales hiring as a result.

3.  Otkritie wants to expand its electronic sales and trading business overseas

As well as developing a sales and trading presence with long-only investment funds and pension clients, Otkritie wants to distribute its high frequency trading technology internationally. It’s opening and office in Hong Kong later this year.

4. Otkritie wants to move into the Russian pension funds market

Belvaev thinks there’s potential here: he expects growth as Russia’s pension funds increasingly sell their products directly to individuals.